The lawmakers said that building a casino would bring revenue and other benefits to the state.

"One that will bring jobs and economic benefits to our communities and to our state," said Rep. Ed Butler, D-Hart's Location.

"We know what our options are. There are no others," said Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry. "The public either wants us to raise taxes on all the things that they use or we can generate it from a voluntary source like this."

But while the group signaled support for the concept of a casino, the united front dissolved a bit when questioned about the vehicle that would make it legal: Senate Bill 152.

"Some of us still have some issues, and we still have to read through the bill," said Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry. "I want to see two casinos -- one up north, one up south."

"I will support gambling, I'll tell you that," said Rep. Dennis Fields, R-Sanborton. "But I need to really see what the bill says too, because if it changes in a way that I'm not happy with, maybe we can have some concern about how we can change that."

Several lawmakers admitted they haven't read SB 152, but they said the $80 million license fee, the millions more a casino a might generate and the competition from Maine and Massachusetts as reasons enough for New Hampshire to act now.

Other groups have raised opposition to the proposal, citing social costs associated with gambling and the way it could affect the New Hampshire brand. But supporters are buoyed by the fact that for a growing number of lawmakers, the question isn't if New Hampshire should allow a casino, but how to go about it.

"It's too big of an opportunity to let go," said Rich Killion of Fix it Now NH. "It's a great start of something new, a new solid dialogue with none of the old scare tactics. A real civil discourse."

A House committee could make changes to the Senate bill, possibly adding a second casino license. But that could change the position of Gov. Maggie Hassan, who has insisted she will support only one facility.